Monday morning I awoke to a two-sentence radio news item that said Broadway composer Mitch Leigh had died at the age of 86, and that he had written the music for Man of La Mancha and the “But nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee” jingle. Mr. Leigh deserves a broader appreciation for his storybook American life.
Archives for March 19, 2014
Signature’s 25th season features three world premiere musicals
In January, 2007, I was among other members of the press in hard hats, touring the new Signature Theatre. When we got to the MAX, Eric Schaeffer predicted that the new state of the art facility, already a far cry from the ‘garage’ space they had just left, would become a space where new musicals […]
Twelfth Night at Center Stage
Director Gavin Witt’s version of Twelfth Night, now at Center Stage, begins in the lobby, where clips from atmospheric movies like Casablanca, Sullivan’s Travels, and Quai des Brumes play on a big screen. Everybody stops to watch. A banner explains that, “This theatrical jaunt (Twelfth Night) pays homage to Hollywood’s Golden Years and the artistic […]
Chimes at Midnight with Stacy Keach, Week 2
Welcome back to the latest installment of Stacy Keach’s blog, as he reports from the rehearsal room of HENRY IV, PARTS 1 and 2 at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. In this installment, Stacy begins to delve into the role of the fat knight, Sir John Falstaff. It’s a role which, as you’ll see, brings up […]
Fresh interpretation of Caryl Churchill by the young women of Lumina Studio
With a pair of plays by Caryl Churchill, Lumina Studio Theatre looks to tap into the spirit of our times. “Top Girls… is sort of women on top, and Fen is sort of women on the bottom,” says David Minton, the company’s artistic director, who is also directing this show. “Fen is really about… wage […]